Four sentenced for neo-Nazi acts

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Four young adults from Vorarlberg have been handed suspended sentences for violating the Prohibition Law - which aims to suppress any potential revival of Nazism in Austria.

Two 18-year-old men, a 17-year-old woman, and a 19-year-old man were all given suspended sentences for taking pictures of themselves making Nazi salutes in public places and singing xenophobic songs.

“We need another Hitler so that the Jews know what’s coming for them,” the only female defendant was quoted as saying when she was arrested. She was sentenced to eight months probation and a €960 fine.

One youth reportedly said that Hitler was “the messiah, he freed the German people”.

The defendants admitted their actions but said that they were very drunk at the time. They have sworn never to repeat them and have said they are willing to do vocational training and look for jobs.

The judge imposed suspended sentences of between eight months and a year. Two of the defendants have been ordered to serve four months in prison, and three were also convicted of burglary, theft, and injury.